The Pleasure of One Mitzvah in the Darkness
The Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch (Rebbe Dovber, 1773-1827) authored a lengthy discourse on the theme of the Cantonists who were being conscripted to the Czar’s army from an age as young as seven, practically ensuring that they would forget Yiddishkeit forever. It was a terrible time of darkness for the Jewish People of Russia.
In his discourse, the Rebbe emphasizes a principle taught by the masters of Chassidus: We cannot fathom the pleasure that the Ribbono shel Olam derives from one mitzvah performed by a Yid who is distant and extinguished.... He knows nothing about Yiddishkeit, yet he performs one mitzvah. The light that emanates from such a mitzvah brings tremendous pleasure to Hashem, the likes of which we cannot imagine.
In our generation, too, the Ribbono shel Olam has chosen a similar avodah—the struggles of Yidden to maintain their kedushah and purity.... We “climb straight walls” in an effort to remain tethered to Hashem, and we even take on extra resolutions to ensure that we remain holy and maintain our connection and relationship with Hashem.
His Love for Those Who Fight and Struggle
And so it is that after מלכיות, when we proclaim and acknowledge that the Ribbono shel Olam runs the world, comes זכרונות, where Hashem tells us, “I have not abandoned you. I have a close relationship with you. I run the world, and you are close to Me.”
The Ribbono shel Olam tells the angels regarding the Yid who struggles with nisyonos: אזכרנו זכור בו דברי מדי כי שעשועים ילד אם אפרים לי יקיר הבן עוד, Ephraim is My precious son, My darling child, whenever I speak of him, I do remember him still.... We have no inkling of the extent of all this, but the Ribbono shel Olam says that a great yearning for us is aroused within Him—so much so that His heart aches for us. “Whenever I speak of this Yid who bruises and bloodies himself on My behalf... he does what he can to remain close to Me... My heart aches for him.”
